Sensei Roy Loveday's interest in the martial arts began in the early 60's. He began Shito Ryu with Ron Irwin in Bristol  TN.   This is a Japanese martial art that emphasizes strength conditioning and perfection of motion.  He studied Shito Ryu for approximately 2 years when a job transfer in 1968 brought him to Knoxville   TN.

     He soon found that there were no martial arts in Knoxville except for Isshin Ryu with Harold Long and Allen Wheeler. Due to the time it would take to travel to Bristol for instruction coupled with a strong desire to be in the martial arts he decided to study Isshin Ryu.

     When Harold Long and Allen Wheeler went their seperate ways in the mid 80's  he stayed with Mr. Wheeler's school.  This is where Sensei met Sherman Harrill in 1989.  Sensei then went with Mr. Harrill to further his knowledge of Isshin Ryu.  He studied with Sensei Harrill until his death on November 4, 2002.

    During his time in Isshin Ryu Sensei Loveday also studied many different arts to gain a better understanding of his own.  These included Tai Chi, Escrima, Nunchaku, and Aikido just to name a few.  When he met Sensei Harrill he realized that everything he had thought was lacking in Isshin Ryu was there when the principles that Sensei Harrill taught were applied to it.

    Sensei Loveday after studying with Sensei Harrill felt that he should pass on what he has learned in his 36 years in the martial arts.  He opened a school in 1990.  For health reasons he closed down the commercial school in 1993, and built a dojo in his home where he still teaches today.  He took a few selected students with him and has since began taking new students.

    Sensei Loveday's approach to kata and techniques is to accept nothing less than the best that each student has to offer.  His attention to small details, the basics and body mechanics ensure that each karate ka that he teaches is able to perform the techniques and their applications.  He is a firm believer in the fact that form without purpose is useless.  A kata done with no other intention than to win a trophy or simply to run through the motions is completely unacceptable to him.   He insists on 110% focus and attention from each student.  He believes that you will get out of Isshin-Ryu only what you put into it.